The Golden Record - Sounds of the Earth
The Collective Gallery (31 July - 31 August 2008)
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The Golden Record is an exhibition taking place at the Collective Gallery as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival. The Collective Gallery and the Edinburgh Art Festival both receive support from the Scottish Arts Council. |
Introduction
Images of Earth
Life on Earth
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The Collective Gallery is delighted to present The Golden Record - Sounds of Earth, a unique cross-platform/cross-festival project which is part of both the Edinburgh Art Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. |
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Comedians, artists and film-makers come together for a contemporary remake of the original Golden Record - a phonograph record launched into space in 1997, containing sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth.
Over 100 artists have created new work to be shown in the gallery space alongside newly-commissioned video works. There will also be a series of live comedy events to accompany the exhibition in which nine comedians will vie to be the Representative for the Human Race.
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“The Golden Record is a phonograph record which was included in two Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977. It is intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form, or far future humans, that may find it. The Voyager spacecraft will take about 40,000 years to come near another star, it will take at least that long for the Golden Record to be found" (Wikipedia) |
116 ‘Images of Earth’ were compiled for the original Golden Record by Carl Sagan and his team of Nasa scientists, in 1977 – in the 2008 edition, 116 artists will produce a work which corresponds to an original title. The original list of titles featured such oddities as
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‘Forest Scene with Mushrooms’
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‘House Interior with Artist and Fire’ and
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‘Old Man with Beard and Glasses’.
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Contributors include David Godbold, Ruth Claxton, Dan Perjovschi, Bob and Roberta Smith, Kirsten Glass, Paul McDevitt and Vice-President of the International Association of Astronomical Artists David A Hardy. |
A series of new 3-5 minute video works have also been commissioned for the gallery exhibition to replace the 55 original greetings in different languages.
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Comedians, artists, filmmakers and theatre practitioners will describe an aspect of 'Life on Earth' for the benefit of intelligent extraterrestrials – descriptions of subjects as diverse as The Economy, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, Cabbages and Bingo are provided by contributors including Socialist Magician Ian Saville, Kevin Eldon, Stewart Lee, Kim Noble, Isy Suttie, Paul Foot and NY ventriloquist Carla Rhodes.
A documentary charting the history of intergalactic communication will focus on the creator of the original Golden Record, maverick astrophysicist Carl Sagan and his wife, pop sensation and Earth Ambassador for World Contact Day, Karen Carpenter. |
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bigger picture
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Off-site performance/comedy events
The Golden Record features a series of weekly live comedy hustings at the Pleasance Queen Dome. Nine comedians will deliver a 15-minute speech to audiences at the festival in a series of heats. |
The audiences will have the final vote to decide who will be the Representative for the Human Race. The candidates are Stewart Lee (pictured), Josie Long, Pappy's Fun Club, Robin Ince, Alex Horne, Jo Neary, New Art Club, Edward Aczel and Simon Munnery - hosts include John Hegley & Dan Atkinson. (Booking details below)
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The Collective Gallery is flexibly funded by the Scottish Arts Council.
The Edinburgh Art Festival is funded by The Scottish Arts Council, Edinburgh City Council and The Scottish Government. The 2008 Festival is sponsored by Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, Aesthetica, Barcapel Foundation and Waitrose with support from McFadden Associates Ltd, Habitat, Scottish and Newcastle and Stewarts.
More information about The Golden Record - Sounds of Earth 2008, including full details of all exhibiting artists can be viewed at the Golden Record MySpace page.
Off-site performance/ comedy events
The Golden Record - Sounds of Earth: Hustings
Venue: Pleasance Theatre, Queen Dome, Potterow, 1 Bristo Square, Edinburgh
Saturdays 2, 9, 16 & 23 August
12 Midnight, duration 1 hour
Admission: preview on 2 August £5, all other dates £9/ Concession £7.50
Tickets available from:
Fringe Box Office/ 0131 226 0000
Pleasance Box Office/ 0131 556 6550 | |